How to Change Your Name in New Hampshire

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013.

There are 18 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

In the State of New Hampshire, you can change your name for almost any reason. Changing your name at the time of your marriage or divorce is relatively easy. You can also change your name (or the name of a minor child) for other reasons by following a different process. With both methods, you will need to fill out the proper paperwork, get a new Social Security card, and change your name on all of your accounts.

Choose your new name carefully. Legally changing your name is a serious decision, so you should make sure that you choose a name that you like enough to keep. Before beginning the process of changing your name, practice signing it, and have a few people close to you call you by that name to make sure you like it.

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Make sure your new name will be legal. You will not be able to change your name if your new name would imply "fraudulent intent" (i.e. that you are not trying to gain some benefit by misleading others about your identity).[1] There are, however, several other reasons why you might be denied a name change, including any of the following:[2]

You are avoiding bankruptcy by pretending to be someone else.

Your new name violates a trademark (e.g. changing your name to "Chuck E. Cheese" or "Adidas Batman").

The name uses numbers or symbols (except Roman numerals).

The name includes obscene words.

If you are having trouble determining if your name change is legal, or need legal assistance with this process, hire an attorney. Legal self-help centers may also available to help with name changes, and legal fees may be waived if you demonstrate sufficient financial need. Search online to see what legal aid resources are available in your community.

Complete a Petition for Change of Name. To get a court order officially changing your name, you must fill out a "Petition for Change of Name," numbered NHJB-2175-P. You can download the form here. The form is also available at the district court clerk's office. Do not sign the form before it is notarized.

Leave the case number blank. You will not be issued a case number until you file your forms with the court clerk.

To complete the court and county information, enter the name of the court and the county where you will file the Petition. You can find court locations and contact information here.

Parts 2, 4, 7, and 8 of the form is only applicable if you are filing on behalf of a minor child to change the child's name.

Part 9 requires you to verify that you had the sheriff's department serve a copy of the Petition on a certain agency. This is only necessary if you are in prison, on probation, on parole, or required to register as a sexual offender or offender against children. If you meet any of these criteria, contact your local sheriff's office and request that they serve your Petition on the proper agency.

Have your Petition copies notarized. Take both copies of your unsigned Petition to a notary public. The notary will notarize your paperwork, verifying that you signed the documents in his or her presence. Bring a valid form of identification, such as a driver's license or passport, to verify your identity.

You can also find a notary public by visiting your local bank. Most banks do not charge a fee for notary services if you are a bank customer. If you are not a bank customer, you can use the bank's notary service for a small fee.

File your Petition. Bring both copies of the notarized Petition to the court clerk's office at the courthouse. Use this directory to locate your local courthouse. The clerk will stamp the Petition and issue a case number.

The clerk will require you to pay a filing fee. The fee in New Hampshire is $110 as of 2015.[3]

The clerk may instruct you to complete additional county-specific forms, such as a criminal background check.

Attend your hearing, if required. The judge has discretion to grant a name change petition without a hearing. [4] If the clerk notifies you that you need to attend a hearing before a judge, you will need to appear in court at a later date. The judge will ask you about your reasons for changing your name to make sure that your new name is not fraudulent or misleading.[5] Answer the judge's questions clearly and honestly.

If your petition is denied, get a copy of the denial order and try again.

If the judge approves your request, you will be granted a name change court order.

Change your name on your Social Security card. Once you have received a court order changing your name, your next step will be to obtain a new Social Security card, which will require you to fill out a form and either deliver it to a Social Security Administration office or mail it in with the required documents.[6]

Download and complete the application for a new Social Security card, available online.

Gather your paperwork together. You will need your court order, birth certificate, photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID card) and a completed application for a new Social Security card.[7]

Submit your documents to the Social Security Administration. You can make an appointment to change your name in person, or you can mail in the appropriate documents. All original copies will be mailed back to you with a receipt.[8]

Change your name on your driver's license or state ID card. Visit your local DMV with your new Social Security card and your old driver's license or ID card to receive a new ID card.[10] You are required to notify the DMV of your name change within 10 days of the date of the court order changing your name.[11]

You may be required to pay a fee, give a thumbprint, and/or surrender your old ID.

Choose a new name for the child. Common reasons for changing a minor child's name include marriage, partnership, divorce of the parents, and adoption. A child's name can be changed for other reasons as well.

Fill out a Petition for Change of Name. The process for changing the name of a minor child is substantially the same as petitioning for a name change as an adult, and you can follow the same steps. When completing the Petition for Change of Name, both biological parents must sign the Petition before a notary public.

Provide the last known address of the non-petitioning parent, unless that parent is deceased or has signed this Assent form, numbered NHJB-2121-P.[13]

If one biological parent is deceased, you will need to present a copy of the death certificate to the notary and court clerk.

File your paperwork. File the Petition with the court clerk, along with a certified copy of the child's birth certificate and an Assent form signed by the other parent, if applicable. The clerk may instruct you to complete additional county-specific forms. If a hearing is required to inquire into the reasons for the name change or to permit another parent to object, the clerk will give you a court date.

To acquire a certified copy of a birth certificate, submit a signed written request and photo ID to "Division of Vital Records Administration, Archives Building, 71 South Fruit Street, Concord, NH 03301-2410." Include a check for $15.00 payable to "Treasurer, State of New Hampshire," and a self-addressed stamped envelope.[14]

Change the minor child's name on other documents. Change the child's name on Social Security cards, driver's licenses, bank accounts, medical records, passports, and others, as applicable.

To get a new Social Security card, locate your local office here. Mail this application or deliver it in person, along with the court order, birth certificate, and photo ID.

To change the name on the child's driver's license, visit your local DMV with the new Social Security card and old driver's license. The child is required to notify the DMV of the name change within 10 days of the date of the court order changing his or her name.[15]

Choose a new name for yourself. Upon marriage or entering into a domestic partnership, you might choose to keep your last name the same, take the last name of your partner, hyphenate your names, make your old last name your middle name, or some other combination that fits your family.[16] Similarly, upon divorce or ending a partnership, you may wish to change your name back to what it was before.

This method may only permit you to change your middle and/or last name to the last name of either spouse, or combine your last names. If you would like to change your middle or last name to something else, or to change your first name, you may need to file a Petition for Change of Name.

List your new name on your marriage certificate or divorce petition. When you go to the courthouse to get your marriage certificate, the clerk should ask you if you would like to change your name. Make sure your full new name is listed on the marriage certificate.[17] Similarly, you can request that the court change your name back to your prior name in your divorce paperwork.

If you have already obtained your marriage certificate and it does not include your name change, you will need to use the court system to change your name.

To get a new Social Security card, locate your local office here. Mail this application or deliver it in person, along with the court order, birth certificate, and photo ID.

To change the name on your driver's license, visit your local DMV with your new Social Security card and old driver's license. You are required to notify the DMV of your change within 10 days of the date of the court order changing your name.[18]

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Community Q&A

How is it possible to change a minor's name while I can only notify one parent?

Community Answer

In New Hampshire, you may file a motion for service by publication; if the court grants your motion, you may publish a legal notice in the newspaper of record in the county where the missing parent was last known to live. The court will provide the text of the legal notice. The petitioner will pay for publication.

About This Article

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013.